Revoluble illuminated signal



Jan. 31, 1933. s, FlNcH ET AL 1,895,543

REVOLUBLE ILLUMINATED SIGNAL Filed April 2, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Ere/1115 7 7106, 77aber7'1517'n 0/1,

granule? Jan. 31, 1933. B. s. FiNCH ET AL REVOLUBLE ILLUMINATED SIGNAL Filed April 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bra/1+ 15. 77:1 0 1 0 ber'l 5. ne/v Jan. 31, 1933. B. s. FlNCH ET AL 1 895543 REVOLUBLE ILLUMIN'ATED SIGNAL Filed April 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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REVOLUBLE ILLUMINATED SIGNAL Filed April 2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 31, 1933 entree STATES PATENT GFFECE BRENT S. FINGH AND ROBERT S. FINCH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO BEVOLUBLE ILLUMINATED SIGNAL Application filed April 2, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp changers for beacons and 1no re 1,)art1cularlv to unattended beacons whereln it s nec- 5. essary to maintain the beacon illuminated constantly. l

One object of the present invention 15 b provide a beacon with a plurality of sources of light and means for automatically main- 'iig one source of light effective at all times. and this object is accomplished by providing novel means for automatically moving a second lamp into the exact pos t on occupied by the first lamp when it rails for any reason.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall maintain all the lamps in the normal vertical position and automatically move the second lamp into the exact pos tion previously occupied by the first lamp in a ouick and efiicientmanner. i

l A further object of the invention is to pro vide lamp changer of the character designated in which the second lamp shall not receive full line voltage the instant that 1t is brought into effective position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp changer of the character desig- Q net d which shall be reliable n operation, simple and durable in construction. and more efficient than similar apparatus heretofore employed.

These and other objects will be more manifest from the following specification and drawings and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front vi w in elevation of a. typical form of beacon employing an automatic lamp changer embodying our 1nven- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lamp changer;

-; Figure 3 is a longitudinal view partially in section on line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure is a view partially in section on line of Figure 2:

Figure is a wiring diagram for the lamp a embodying our invention; Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partially Serial N0. 441,037.

in section showing the trip coil construction for the movable platform; and

Figure 7 is a modification of tripping apparatus shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a direction beacon 10 having a lamp changer associated therewith embodying our invention. This beacon may be of the revolving type illustrated in our copending application Serial No. 243,873 filed December 31, 1927 and adapted for signalling aeroplanes in airways and the like. Beacons of this type are frequently located in isolated places where they are not readily accessible by an attendant, and our invention contemplates providing a completely automatic beacon for such places which shall give maximum service with a minimum amount of attention or expense.

The beacon 10 is adjustably supported in brackets 11 mounted on a revoluble casing 12. This casing may be revolved by any suitable source of power such as a motor driven shaft indicated at 13. Located within the beacon drum and positioned in front of the reflector thereof is a lamp changer mechanism 14: constructed in accordance with our invention and arranged to support a plurality of lamps at all times in the normal vertical position. This feature of maintaining the lamps in their vertical positions at all times is particularly desirable because of the nature and type of lamp employed for illuminating such beacons. These lamps are usually vacuum tubes employing long and delicate filaments strung between supports. In the present day form of apparatus, these lamps are tilted into position or otherwise maintained at an angle and it frequently happens that these filaments sag and break, and particularly is this true when the reserve lamp is tilted into position and immediately subjected to a full line voltage shock. It is the purpose of our invention to provide apparatus which shall effectively eliminate these disadvantages and provide a more dependable light for the beacon.

A lamp changer constructed and arranged in accordance with our invention is illustrated in Figure 2, wherein two lamps 15 and 16 are mounted upon a support divided into two parts 17 and 18, the latter being in the form of a movable platform upon which the two lamps are located in spaced relation as hereinafter described. The position of the lamp changer is such that lamp 15 is normally in effective position at the focal axis of the beacon reflector, and upon failure of this lamp the platform is automatically moved by a parallel motion device to bring the reserve lamp 16 into the focal axis and place it in the exact position occupied by the first lamp, Figures 8 and 4.

The fixed portion 17 of the lamp changer includes a metal base plate 19 upon which is mounted an inverted U-shaped metal frame member 20 provided with plane top edges 21 and 22. These top edges form a base for supporting the movable part 18 which may be termed a platform. This platform is also of a similar U-shaped metal construction having plane edges 23 and 24: adapted to rest on edges 21 and 22 to form a rigid support when the platform is at either of its operated positions. The base plate 19 is secured to the beacon frame by means of slots 25 and bolts 26. This construction provides for initially adjusting the lamp changer unit relative to focal axis of the beacon.

For the purpose of this description lamp 15' may be designated the service lamp and lamp 16 the reserve lamp. As stated before, these lamps are spaced apart on the movable platform 18 at a predetermined distance in accordance with the extent of movement of the platform. Each lamp is individually mounted on the platform by auxiliary supports 27 and 28 which are resiliently mounted and provide for independent adjustment of the lamps. These supports are identical in construction and only one will be described in detail. The auxiliary support comprises a lamp socket 29 mounted on a plate member 30 by a bracket 31. This plate member is supported on three springs 82-82 each associated with a binding bolt 33 and an adjusting nut 34 for maintaining the desired tension on its associated spring. Thus each spring may be individually adjusted to accurately position each lamp relative to the focal axis of the reflector with the required precision for such purposes.

The operating mechanism for moving the platform 18 transversely of the fixed base comprises a plurality of lever arms 35-35 of equal length and pivot-ally connected to the platform 18 at 8636 and to the base 17 at 3787. These connections maintain the platform parallel when moving or carrying it to bring the reserve lamp into effective position at the focal axis of the beacon as in dicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. The operation of this mechanism is controlled by electrical devices actuated by the failure of a lamp filament as hereinafter described.

The mechanism for moving the platform 18 and positively looking it in either of its operative positions consists of movable locking members 38 and 39 mounted on a rock shaft 4-0 journaled between the sides of the U- shaped member 20. As shown, locking member 88 is indicated as projection on one arm 11 of a bell crank lever 42 arranged to engage a notched cam member 13 on the under side of the platform. Locking member 39 is in the form of a notched cam lever also rigidly connected to shaft to and arranged to engage a projection 14 on the under side of the platform. The outer end of shaft 10 carries an arm 45 arranged to engage a stop 46 on the base frame 17. he arm is yieldably held in engagement with its stop by means of a tension spring 47 connected to the frame 17 and an arm 48 of the bell crank lever 42. The platform 18 is moved from one position to another on the fixed base by a coil spring 19 connected at one end to a parallel movement arm 35, the opposite end being connected to the base 17 by an adjustable nut device 50'. This nut device pro vides for changing the tension of the spring should the same be necessary for any reason.

The operation of the platform is automatically effected upon the failure of the lighted lamp filament, and when such a failure occurs, the platform is shifted aut0matically by electrical mechanism hereinafter described, to remove the faulty lamp from the focal axis of the beacon and place a reserve lamp in the exact position previously occupied by the first lamp.

The various electrical connections are shown diagrammatically in Figure 5 in which terminals 50 and 51 indicate a source of electrical energy such as A. C. or D. C. current, for example. Current is supplied to the filament 52 of lamp 15 by lead wire 53, solenoid coil 54, lead 55, switch 56, wire 58 and return lead 59. Associated with this circuit is a shunt circuit including the series coil 5 1, con tact 57, solenoid coil 60, wire 61, contacts 62 and 63 and lead 64 connecting with minus power at terminal 51. Contacts 62 and 63 are normally separated and are closed by a floating armature 65 actuated by solenoid 54.

The completed circuit to the reserve lamp 16 when moved into effective position, includes the series coil 54:, switch 56, contact 66, wire 67, filament 68, lead 7 0 and thence to minus power 51. Switch 56 supplies current to the lamps in accordance with the position of platform 18 and the operation of this switch mechanism is effected by an armature 71 operated by solenoid 60.

This electrical mechanism is substantially housed within the lamp changer structure between the sides of the U-shaped frame members so as to produce a more durable and reliable apparatus. The series coil 54 comprises a few turns of heavy wire and is mounted in a bracket 72 secured to one side of the base 17 by means of tap screws 73. Terminals and 51 and contacts 62 and 63 are also mounted on the base 17 by means of an insulation block 74 secured thereto by means of tap screws 75. As shown, contacts 6263 control the shunt circuit and lead 64 is in the form of a resilient spring and carries contact 63 normally separated from contact 62. This condition prevails when current is flowing through either of the lamps 15 or 16 as this current always energizes coil 54 and thereby maintains armature 65 in an elevated position.

The shunt coil mechanism for tripping the platform locking mechanism 38 includes the arm 41 which is loosely connected to armature 71 of coil by pin connection 76. One feature of our invention is the provision of an armature construction which shall deliver a quick hammer action to release the locking mechanism.

One form of mechanism for accomplishing the result is shown in Figure 6 wherein a thin walled brass tube 77 is freely suspended in the central opening of coil 60. The tube is closed at the lower end by an anvil member 78. A heavy cylindrical iron core member 79 is supported in the tube by a light coil spring 80, and when the coil is energized, the iron core member is drawn quickly downwardly and strikes the anvil with a sharp hammer blow to release the latch 38 and permit the platform to be moved under the action of tension spring-49.

Another form of armature mechanism for imparting the desired positive hammer action is shown in Figure 7. In this construction a T-shaped bar member 81 is suspended in the central opening of coil 60. The heavy iron core is in the form of a thick walled tubular cylinder 82 provided with a tubular guide 83 for the spring 80 which normally holds the core armature in elevated position. lVhen the coil is energized, the iron cylinder descends with a hamer blow 011 the T-head and thereby effects the desired positive action.

Connect-ion between the series coil 54 and the lamps on the platform 18 is effected by a spring metal contact member 84 mounted on the base by an insulation block 85. The contact 84 is located in the path of movement of angular shaped metal contacts 57 and 66 mounted on insulator blocks 88 and 89, re sp-ectively, secured to the under side of the platform 18. The fixed contacts 57 and 66 and yieldable spring contact 56 are of heavy conductor material so as to provide means for cushioning the movement of the plat form as it reaches its extreme positions previous to being positively locked in final position. This relative movement between the contact members also serves to brighten the contact points and obtain a reliable frictional connection.

Having thus described apparatus embodying our invention the operation thereof is carried out in the following manner. Assume that lamp 15 is in effective position at the focal axis of the beacon reflector and the filament of lamp 15 fails. lVhen this occurs, the flow of current ceases through series coil 54 and permits the floating core to drop and thereby close contacts 62 and 63 and establish a flow of current through the shunt trip coil 60. Armature 71 is then immediately actuated to deliver a hammer blow to the bell crank arm 41 and thereby release the platform 18 which is immediately accelerated to the new position by coil spring 49. Upon reaching the new posit-ion the projection 44 on the platform yieldably rides into cam notch 39 under the action of spring 47 and positively locks the platform in the new position. During this movement, coil spring 47 and leaf spring contactor 56 serve to retard the movement of the platform so as to bring the same to rest with a minimum amount of shock or jar to the lamps carried thereby. When the platform is thus in its new position, contacts 56 and 66 are closed and a new circuit is established through the reserve lamp 16. As soon as series coil is again energized, the armature 65 is raised against its stop 90 and contacts 62-63 separate to open the shunt circuit.

One important feature of this novel circuit arrangement is that of supplying current to the lamps through a series coil so that when current is turned on for the service lamp or a new lamp is brought into effective position, the flow of current thereto builds up gradually and relieves the filament of the shock of full line voltage. In present day apparatus it frequently happens that the lamps burn out immediately when subjected to instant full line voltage and this is particularly true when a reserve lamp is suddenly tilted into position. The present invention provides a construction which effectively minimizes any fault of this character by always maintainlng the lamps in the normal vertical position and changing them with a minimum. amount of disturbance.

Another feature of this particular form of electrical connection is that when current to the apparatus is cut off, no change is produced in the condition of the apparatus. If the service lamp is lighted when the current is cut off, the core of the series coil drops and maintains contacts 62 and 63 closed by action of gravity. When the current is again turned on, lamp 15 again receives current gradually through the series coil. Owing to the fact that series coil 54 is of a few turns of large wire, current flows through the circuit and raises armature 65 before the shunt coil is energized to effect any operation of the tripping mechanism. Therefore the service lamp always remains in efiective position until there is an actual failure in the circuit thereof.

Having thus described a lamp changer apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention it is obvious that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a beacon, a plurality of lamps one of which is normally in efiective position at the focal axis of the beacon, a horizontal support for the lamps comprising a movable platform including individual yieldable supporting means for maintaining each of said lamps in normal vertical position, mechanism for moving the platform vertically and laterally to effect a transposition of the lamps relative to the focal axis of the beacon, and means for adjusting the vertical alignment of each of said lamps relative to the focal axis of said beacon.

2. In a beacon, a plurality of lamps one of which is normally in effective position at the focal axis of the beacon, a support for the lamps comprising a movable platform for maintaining said lamps in normal vertical position, a parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform laterally to effect a transposition of the lamps relative to the focal axis of the beacon and mechanism including a quick hammer action inertia device for positively effecting the operation of the parallel motion mechanism.

3. In a beacon, a plurality of lamps one of which is normally in effective position at the focal axis of the beacon, a support for the lamps comprising a movable platform for maintaining said lamps in normal vertical position, automatically operated mechanism for moving the platform vertically and laterally to effect a transposition of the lamps relative to the focal axis of the beacon, and means for cushioning the final movement of said platform when moved to a new position.

4. In an electric lighting device, a carrier, a service lamp and a reserve lamp supported on said carrier, means tending to move the carrier in one direction, releasable locking means for permitting the carrier to move in said direction, electrically operated inertia means for positively actuating said lock releasing means, gravity operated circuit closing means actuated by the failure of the serv ice lamp filament for establishing acircuit to said lock actuating means whereby the reserve lamp is carried into efiective position, said circuit closing means being automatically reset when the reserve lamp is lighted.

5. In an electric lighting device, a carrier, a service lamp and a reserve lamp supported on said carrier, means tending to move the carrier in one direction, releasable locking means for permitting the carrier to move in said direction, electrically operated means connected to said lock releasing means and including a quick action inertia device for positively actuating the same, and gravity operated means positively actuated by a failure of current to the service lamp filament for energizing said lock operating means.

6. In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination, a service lamp and a reserve lamp, a movable carrier support for the lamps having at least two positions and normally occupying one position to render the service lamp effective, a base for said carrier, means for normally holding the carrier in rigid relation to said base, means for lifting the carrier and moving the same parallel to said baseso as to render the reserve lamp effective, and gravity opera-ted means actuated by failure of the service lamp for rendering said carrier mechanism operative.

7 In an electric signalling apparatus having in combination. a service lamp and a reserve lamp, a movable carrier support for the lamps having at least two positions and normally occupying one position to render the service lamp effective, a base substantially commensurate in size with said support, means for rigidly holding the sides of said carrier in normal position with the sides of said base, means for moving the carrier parallel to said base so as to render the reserve lamp effective, means actuated by failure of the service lamp for rendering said carrier mechanism operative, and means for rigidly holding the sides of said carrier in engagement with the sides of said base when the carrier support is moved from one position to another on the base.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting a pluralitv of lamps in normal vertical position, yieldable means normally tending to move the platform, means normally restraining movement of the platform and locking it in position, parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform from one position to another, and means cooperating with the yieldable means for initiating the movement of said platform when the locking means is released, said initiation means also tending to retard the final movement of the plat-form at the new position.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting'a plurality of lamps, means normally restraining movement of the platform and locking it in position, means for moving the platform from one position to another, including means for accelerating the movement of said platform when the locking means is released and means for retarding the movement of the platform including a spring controlled cam having means associated therewith for positively locking the platform in final position.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps, means normally restraining movement of the platform and looking it in position, parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform from one position to another, including means for accelerating the movement of said platform when the locking means is released, yieldable means for initially moving the platform, and a single yieldable means for accelerating the initial movement of said platform and retarding the final movement thereof.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps in effective position relative to a focal axis, means normally restraining movement of the platform and looking it in position, parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform from one position to another, including means for accelerating the movement of said platform when the locking means is released, means for controlling the movement of said platform including yieldable means for initially moving the platform, a single yieldable means for accelerating the initial movement of said platform and retarding the final movement thereof and other means actuated by the final movement of the platform to further retard the same including means to positively lock the platform in 'nnal position.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps spaced apartand in normal vertical position. means normally restraining movementof the platform and locking it in position. parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform from one position to another, including means for accelerating the movement of said platform when the locking means is released and means successively operated by the movement of the platform for retarding the final movement thereof.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps, means normally restraining movement of the platform and looking the same in position, means for moving the platform from one position to another, including means for accelerating the movement of said platform when the locking means is released, means successively operated by the movement of the platform for retarding the final movement thereof, said means successively operated by the final movement of the platform for cushioning said final movement thereof and locking said platform against the pressure of said retarding means.

1%. In abeacon, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position, a base for the platform and a parallel motion device for lifting the platform from its base and placing the same in a new position thereon.

15. In a beacon, a movable. platform for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position, a base for the platform, a parallel motion device pivotally connected to said platform and said base for lifting the platform from the base and placing the same in a new position thereon, and means positively actuated for effecting the operation of the parallel motion device. 1

16. In a beacon, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position, a base for the platform, a

parallel motion device pivotally connected to said platform and said base for lifting the platform from the base and placing the same in a new position thereon and means actuated by the failure of current to one ofthe lamps for positively effecting the operation of the parallel motion device.

17. In a lamp changer of the character described, an inverted U shaped base member, a movable platform arranged to normally en1 gage the top edges of the U shaped member and form a rigid support for said platform, parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform transversely on said U shaped member andmechanism housed between the sides of said U shaped member and below the platform for effecting the operation of the parallel motion mechanism.

18. In a lamp changer of the character described, an inverted U shaped base member having its top edges in a plane, a. movable platform having depending flanges arranged to normally engage the top edges of the U shaped member, parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform transversely on said U shaped member and mechanism housed between the sides of said U shaped member and below the platform for efiecting the operation of the parallel motion mechanism.

19. In a lamp changer of the character described, an inverted U shaped base member having its top edges in a plane, a movable platform having depending flanges arranged to normally engage the top edges of the U shaped member, parallel motion mechanism for moving the platform horizontally above the base and carrying it to a new position on said base and mechanism housed between the sides of said U shaped member and below the platform for effecting the operation thereof.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable member for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position, a base for said member having a plane top portion for rigidly supporting a similar portion on the movable member, and means for bodily moving the lamp supporting member through a small vertical arc in relation to said base to place the same in a new position thereon.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position including a yieldable tripod support for each lamp on said platform, a base for said member, means for bodily moving the lamp supporting member in relation to said base to place the same in a new position thereon, means for holding the lamp supporting member in rigid relation to said base and means for tiltably adjusting the vertical alignment of each lamp relative to said base.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, a movable member for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position, a base for said member having plane top rib members for engaging similarly disposed rib members on said movable member, means for bodily moving the lamp supporting member in relation to said base to place the same ina new position thereon, means for holding the lamp supporting member in rigid relation to said base, and means for locking said lamp supporting member rigidly in the new position on said base.

23. In a beacon, a movable platform for supporting a plurality of lamps in normal vertical position, a base for the platform and means for bodily moving the platform through a vertical arc of travel relative to said base, including means for maintaining the platform parallel to said base during the movement of said platform.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

BRENT S. FINCH. ROBERT S. FINCH. 

